Theodulia, or, A just defence of hearing the sermons and other teaching of the present ministers of England against a book unjustly entituled (in Greek) A Christian testimony against them that serve the image of the beast, (in English) A Christian and sober testimony against sinful complyance, wherein the unlawfulness of hearing the present ministers of England is pretended to be clearly demonstrated by an author termed by himself Christophilus Antichristomachus / by John Tombes.

Title

Theodulia, or, A just defence of hearing the sermons and other teaching of the present ministers of England against a book unjustly entituled (in Greek) A Christian testimony against them that serve the image of the beast, (in English) A Christian and sober testimony against sinful complyance, wherein the unlawfulness of hearing the present ministers of England is pretended to be clearly demonstrated by an author termed by himself Christophilus Antichristomachus / by John Tombes.

Author

Tombes, John, 1603?-1676.

Publication

London :: Printed by E. Cotes for Henry Eversden ...,

1667.

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Subject terms

Douglas, Thomas, fl. 1661. -- Martyrion Christianon, or, A Christian and sober testimony against sinfull complyance.

Church of England -- Apologetic works.

Dissenters, Religious -- Controversial literature.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62876.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"Theodulia, or, A just defence of hearing the sermons and other teaching of the present ministers of England against a book unjustly entituled (in Greek) A Christian testimony against them that serve the image of the beast, (in English) A Christian and sober testimony against sinful complyance, wherein the unlawfulness of hearing the present ministers of England is pretended to be clearly demonstrated by an author termed by himself Christophilus Antichristomachus / by John Tombes." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62876.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 24, 2025. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• license
• To the Right Honourable EDWARD EARL of CLARENDON Lord Chancellour of ENGLAND.
• TO THE CHRISTIAN READERS. Especially those to whom at any time I have Preached the Word of God.
  • Sect. 1. Prefaces needful by reason of Readers pre∣judice.
  • Sect. 2. Prejudice against the Author, as favouring Separation, causless.
  • Sect. 3. The evils consequent on the tenet of Separa∣tion, urge to an examination of it.
  • Sect. 4. The motive and end of this Writing.
• The Contents.
• THEODVLIA: OR, A JUST DEFENCE Of HEARING the SERMONS And other Teaching of the present Mi∣nisters of England. In Answer to the Book, entituled, A Christian and sober Testimony against sinful Complyance.
  • Sct. 1. Of the worship of God, and how hearing is worship of him.
  • Sect. 2. Of hearing, how instituted worship, and to be devolved on the Scriptures of the New Testament.
  • Sect. 3. Hearing not a meer positive or ceremonial worship.
  • Sect. 4. The judgment of the Antients, not useless in this controversie.
  • Sect. 5. No approved practice of the Saints, afore the Law, Counte∣nanceth separation from the present preachers in England.
  • Sect. 6. Jewish Laws admitted some dispensation and addition.
  • Sect. 7. The election or ordination of Levites, is no rule for election or ordination of Ministers now.
  • Sect. 8. The Texts enjoyning the observation of things appointed, prove not that some things undetermined might not in Gods wor∣ship be ordered by men.
  • Sect. 9. The defection of the Jews to Idolatrous inventions of men, is of a more hainous degree than use of humane ceremonies with us.
  • Sect. 10. Such testimony as the Prophets gave against the Jewish defection, is not now to be given against the Conformists.
  • Sect. 11. The conformist not chargeable, as the false Prophets of the Jewes.
  • Sct. 12. Invectives against teachers and worship now, may be from another spirit than that of the Prophets.
  • Sect. 13. The forsaking of false Prophets and worship among the Jewes, is no justification of separation, from the present teachers and worship.
  • Sect. 14. The arguing by analogy in positive rites not rational.
  • Sect. 15. The first Querie about a National Instituted Church answered.
  • Sect. 16. National Ministers may be Ministers of Christ, and Nati∣onal Churches true Churches.
  • Sect. 17. Mr. Parker's arguments, that the form of Churches is of Divine Institution, are answered.
  • Sect. 18. The Ministry of the Gospel is a true Ministry of Christ.
  • Sect. 19. A true Gospel Ministry may be in a false Church so deemed.
  • Sect. 20. Gods love to us is not less, in not determining the whole of his Worship to us, as to the Jews.
  • Sect 21. Christ designs Officers and Offices for his Church (not as were in the Jewish) which are the same, while their work is the same, though some Titles be new.
  • Sect. 22. The solemn deputation of Ministers, is not the peculiar priviledge of Saints.
  • Sect. 23. Corruptions in non-fundamentals un-church not.
  • Sect. 24. Every error makes not a false Prophet.
  • Sect. 25. Separation by reason of some corruptions unwarran∣table.
  • Sect. 26. It is prudence to joyn in worship, and hearing where some errours and corruptions remain.
• CHAP. 1. ARG. I.
  • Sect. 1. Some scruples of conscience are of ill consequence.
  • Sect. 2. There is warrant in Scripture to hear the present Mini∣sters of England.
  • Sect. 3. Accidentals of Instituted Worship warranted without com∣mand in Scripture.
  • Sect. 4. Prejudice is no argument, nor personal motives good proof.
• CHAP. 2. ARG. 2.
  • Sect. 1. Preachers may be heard, as teaching Truth.
  • Sect. 2. They may be heard as Ministers of the Gospel, who are not rightly called.
  • Sect. 3. Preachers may be Ministers of the Gospel, who are not cho∣sen by a particular Instituted Church.
  • Sect. 4. The present Ministers may be heard as Gifted Brethren.
  • Sect. 5. Tender Consciences may call the Bishops Reverend Fathers.
  • Sect 6. It is not proved that the best of the present Ministers are to be separated from, as walking disorderly.
• CHAP. 3. ARG. 3.
  • Sect. 1. That which is by some termed Antichristian, is not alwayes unlawful.
  • Sect. 2. The names given to the Ministers of England, prove not their Office not to be from Christ.
  • Sect. 3. The term Priest proves not symbolizing with the Popish Order of Priests.
  • Sect. 4. The parallel particulars prove not the English Ministers sym∣bolizing in office with Popish Priests.
  • Sect. 5. The Office of Bishops is not proved to be Antichristian, but may be found in Scripture.
  • Sect. 6. The office of Lord Bishops is not contrary to express precepts of Christ in the Scripture.
  • Sect. 7. The Office of Lord-Bishops not from the Papacy.
  • Sect. 8. The Ordination of Bishops, is also of Presbyters.
• CHAP. 4. ARG. 4.
  • Sect. 1. They that deny not Christs Offices Doctrinally, may be heard
  • Sect 2. Every not hearkning to Christs Order, is not a denial of his Office.
  • Sect. 3. It is not proved, that Christs Soveraign Authority is rejected by the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 4. Ministers oppose not the Will of Christ by not joyning in the Separation pleaded for.
  • Sect. 5. Election and Excommunication by the Church is not Christs Institution.
  • Sect. 6. No contempt of the authority of Christ is in the Church of England by setting up Officers and Offices.
  • Sect. 7. Election of Ministers by the Common Suffrage of the Church is not proved to be Christs appointment.
  • Sect. 8. Prophesying is not opposed by the Ministers.
  • Sect 9. Ministers service may be Divine and Spiritual, in the use of the Liturgy.
  • Sect. 10. Things objected against the Ministers, are not such as justifie Separation.
• CHAP. 5.
  • Sect. 1. All owning of Orders different from, or contrary to Christs, proves not a denial of his Offices.
  • Sect. 2. Ministers submitting to Canons is unjustly censured.
  • Sect. 3. Making Canons in things undetermined, and subjection to them, agrees with Scripture.
  • Sect. 4. It's no derogation from Scripture, or Christ, that such Ca∣nons are made and obeyed.
  • Sect. 5 All particularities of Decency and Order in things sacred, are not determined in Scripture.
  • Sect. 6. It's not proved, that the Ministers of England, own Con∣stitutions contrary to the revelation of Christ.
  • Sect. 7. A prescript Form of words in Prayer devised by man, is not contrary to Rom. 8.26. 1 Cor. 14.15.
  • Sect 8. The admission of vitious persons to Communion, justifies not separation.
  • Sect. 9. Receiving the Lords Supper kneeling, is not directly opposite to Christs practice or precept, of the abstaining from appearance of evil, 1 Thess. 5.22.
  • Sect. 10. Forbidding to marry or eat flesh at certain times, are not characters of Apostates, as 1 Tim. 4.3. is meant.
  • Sect. 11. No such Headship is owned by the present Ministers, as is a denial of Christs Offices.
  • Sect. 12. Conformity to Laws opposite to Christ's, proves not owning another King coordinate to him.
  • Sect. 13. Headship of the Church under Christ, is not monstrous.
  • Sect. 14. The Kings Supremacy is such as was allowed the Kings of Israel.
• CHAP. 6. ARG. 5.
  • Sect. 1. False doctrine only makes a false Prophet not to be heard.
  • Sect. 2. The Ministers not false Prophets, because not sent, as Jer. 23.21. Rom. 10.15. is meant.
  • Sect. 3. The Ministers not proved to commit Adultery, and walk in lyes, as Jer. 23.14. is meant.
  • Sect. 4. The Ministers are not proved to strengthen the hands of evil doers, as Jer. 23.14. is meant.
  • Sect. 5. The Ministers are not proved such daubers as those, Ezek. 22.28.
  • Sect. 6. Ministers changing of places, sadning some mens hearts, not characters of a false Prophet.
  • Sect. 7. Pressing rigid Conformity no proof of the Ministers being false Prophets.
  • Sect. 8 The charge Ezek. 22.26. reacheth not the Ministers of England.
  • Sect. 9. The Ministers are not the false Shepherds meant, Ezek. 34.4.
  • Sect. 10. The Ministers of England are not the second Beast foretold. Revel. 13.11.
• CHAP. 7. ARG. 6.
  • Sect. 1. All Idolatry is, by exhibiting Divine Worship to a Crea∣ture.
  • Sect. 2. All Will-worship of God is not Idolatry.
  • Sect. 3. This Authors Argument as well proves himself an Idolater as the Conformist.
  • Sect. 4. Prayer in a stinted form may be worship of God of his ap∣pointment.
  • Sect. 5. Common-Prayer-Book worship shuts not out of doors the exercise of the gift of Prayer.
  • Sect. 6. Common-Prayer Book Worship is not of pure humane in∣vention.
  • Sect. 7. Common-Prayer Book worship is the same with the Worship of the Reformed Churches.
  • Sect. 8. No Particularity instituted is a meer Circumstance, yet Particularities undetermined are.
  • Sect. 9. Praying in a Form, may be praying in the Spirit.
  • Sect 10. The Forms of Prayer imposed, are not made necessary essential parts of Woship.
  • Sect. 11. Acting in the holy things of God, by an Office-power and modes of Idolaters, may be without Idolatry.
  • Sect. 12. The English Ministers opps Ppish Idolatry, as other Protestants.
  • Sect. 13. The Ministers of England act not by vertue of an Of∣fice-power from Idolaters.
  • Sect. 14. The Common-Prayer Book worship was not abused to Idolatry.
  • Sect. 15. Kneeling in receiving the Sacramental elements, is not Idolatry.
  • Sect. 16. The Crimination of the Ministers, as Idolaters, is not excusable.
  • Sect. 17. The Martyrs are unjustly made Idolaters by this Author.
• CHAP. 8. ARG. 7th. and 8th.
  • Sect. 1. Every Offence of others, makes not sinful, that which otherwise is lawful.
  • Sect. 2. Hearing the present Ministers may be the Saints duty▪
  • Sect. 8. Sinful scandalizing is not by hearing the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 4. It is not Scandal given but when the offensive action is done blameably.
  • Sect. 5. Offending some sincere Christians, by hearing the pre∣sent Ministers, is not the scandalizing threatned Matth. 18.6.
  • Sect. 6. The Separatists give more just cause of Offence to godly sober Christians, than the Conformists do to them.
  • Sect. 7. Hearing the present Ministers, may be without partici∣pation with them in sin.
• CHAP. 9. ARG. 9.
  • Sect. 1. Separation of some, from other Christians, is no institu∣tion of Christ.
  • Sect. 2. Meeting of separated Christians, as a distinct body, is not Christs institution.
  • Sect. 3. Separated Congregational Churches, in opposition to Na∣tional, are not of Christs institution.
  • Sect. 4. To attend only on the ministry of Ministers of Congrega∣tional Churches, is not of Christs appointment.
  • Sect. 5. Hearing the present Ministers casts no contempt on Christs Institutions.
  • Sect. 6. Hearing the present Ministers, hardens none in sin.
  • Sect. 7. Gods people are not called out of the temples in England, as places of false worship.
  • Sect. 8. There is ground to expect a blessing in hearing the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 9. Hearing the present Ministers, is no step to Apostacy.
  • Sect. 10. A pollution in one part, makes not the whole wor∣ship polluted.
• CHAP. 10. Fifty Arguments for hearing the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 1. Christs direction Matth. 23.2, 3. warrants hearing the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 2. The Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses his chair as Teachers, not as Magistrates.
  • Sect. 3. The Pharisees were not Church-officers of Gods ap∣pointment.
  • Sect. 4. Christ allows hearing the Pharisees while they taught the Law of Moses.
  • Sect. 5. Hearing Pharisees teaching Moses law, not attendance on their Ministry, as Pastors is allowed by Christ.
  • Sect. 6. Christs and his Apostles going to the Jewish meetings, is opposite to the Separatists opinion and practice.
  • Sect. 7. Pauls rejoycing at the preaching Christ, of contention, warrants hearing the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 8. The truth Ministers teach, warrants the hearing of them.
  • Sect. 9. Evil persons may be heard as true Ministers.
  • Sect. 10. It is a sin not to encourage good men in their Ministry.
  • Sect. 11. The example of the learned godly Nonconformists is some inducement to hear the present Ministers.
  • Sect. 12. The Magistrates command to hear, the present Mini∣nisters is to be obeyed.
  • Sect. 13. Conformists Ministry hath been instrumental to Convert Souls.
  • Sect. 14. To the observation of the Lords day, hearing the present Ministers as the case now is, may be requisite.
  • Sect. 15. An Appendix, containing fourty additional Reasons against denying the lawfulness of hearing the present Mi∣nisters.
  • Sect. 16. Some passages in the writings of Mr. John Good∣win opposite to th Book Intituled, Prelatical Preachers none of Christs Teachers.
• ERRATA.
• Books Printed for Henry Eversden, and are to be sold at his shop under the Crown-Tavern in West-Smithfield.